Movies - TV
James Bond’s Producers Almost Scrapped Two Key Casino Royale Scenes
By JEREMY SMITH
“Casino Royale” had two key scenes that subverted how James Bond typically interacted with women. Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli actually wanted these scenes cut.
Starting with Ursula Andress’ Honey Ryder in 1962’s “Dr. No,” a Bond girl was usually a femme fatale with a ridiculous sexual name who helplessly fell for Bond’s rough charm.
It was more of the sexist same for decades until 007’s stewards stared irrelevance in the face and boldly rebooted the Bond franchise with 2006’s “Casino Royale.”
In “Royale,” Bond (Daniel Craig) wants to use every advantage to ensure his victory, and he spies his associate, Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), as an alluring asset.
Director Martin Campbell liked this idea, but he also saw Lynd as Bond’s equal. This bugged Broccoli, particularly in the scene where Bond and Lynd get dressed for a tournament.
In “Nobody Does it Better,” Campbell said, “Bond [...] comes in and hangs up her dress and says, ‘[...] Wear this, because I want the players looking at you and not at their cards.’”
He added, “It was chauvinist as hell.” Broccoli relented, and Campbell said Broccoli only objected once more when Bond breaks into M’s (Judi Dench) apartment and she scolds him.
This scene set a new sensible tone for the franchise, as Bond must always answer to a woman who is his equal, and it pays off beautifully when M is killed in “Skyfall.”